Machine for applying metallic leaf



June 2, 1925.

G. E. LITTLEFIELD MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC LEAF Fiml nay' 2e, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 2, 1925 I 1,539,853

G. E. LITTLEFIELD MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC LEAF Filed nay 2e, 1924 e sheets-sheet 2 O W7 "g O 1,539,853 G. E. LITTLEFIELD MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC LEAF Filed Nay 26, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 2,1925.

G. E. LITTLEFIELD MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC LEAF Filed May 26, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zzvenozf- June 2, 1925.

G. E. LITTLEFIELD MACHINE FOR APPLYING METALLIC LEAF Filed )lay 26, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 fm f@ Patented June 2, 1925.

U-Nrree 'STATES PATENT-orties.

GEORGE F. LTTLEFIELD, OCS PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, .ASSIGNOR T0 AMECAN ROLL GOLD LEAF COMPANY, PROVHTINCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATON vOF RHODE rsLANn.

MACHINE non. APPLYrNG METALLIC LEAF.

Appucation mea May 2e, 1924. serial nu. 715,867.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, GEORGE Lrrrnn FIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Applying Metallic Leaf, ot which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that type of machine for applying metallic leaf set forth in my prior United States Patent No. 1,242,- 454; issued Oct. 9, 1917.

The essential objects of my invention, in addition to vthose commonly sought in this type of machine, are to more ei'iectivcly impress and burnish the metal strip upon the article to be ornamented: to facilitate the reciprocation of the carriage; to improve lthe means for driving the feed roll; to preventthe occurrence of slack in the strips during their travel: to prevent mutilation of strips: and to increase the strength and power of the machine.

My invention consists primarily in the means and mechanism for producing the results above specified substantially as hereinafter claimed.

In the accompanying' drawings which form a part of this specilication- Figure l is a side elevation of the machine embodying my invention,

Figure 2, a front elevation of the same,

Figure 3, a plan,

Figure 4 is a rear elevation partially in transverse vertical section on line 1-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5, a fragmentary section on line 5-5 of Figure 41,

Figure 6, a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a partial fragmentary section on line 7-7 of Figure el,

Figure 8, a section on line 8 8 of Fig ure 3,

Figure 9, a section on line 6-6 of Figure 3,

Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Figure 1, and

Figure 11 is a section on line 11-11 of Figure 10. p

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

The framework of my machine comprises a vtable 15 having in this instance side sup-- r'side walls 22, and a neck 24;, terminating in a head 26. The forward end of the base has fixed thereto by bolts 28 a. yoke 80. A similar yoke is attached by bolts 84 to the head 26. In sleeves 36 upon the ends of the yoke 30, and in sleeves 38 inthe yoke 32, are tie rods 10 provided on their ends `with threads l1 securing nuts 42 embracing the several sleeves. -The rodstO tie together the base and head of the frame and mutually support and strengthen the forward portion of the machine. the forward portion of the base is the, adjustable support lll of a work carrying table 416 of the compound slide type.

In vertical alignment with the table is a plunger slidable in the head 2 6, and hav ing upon its bot-tom a die holder 67 carrying, in this instance, a plurality of spaced -dies 69. The die holder is heated in any usual convenient mannen The upper portion of the plunger, which terminates intermediate the height of the head, is bifurcated forniingvertical ears 70 in which is loosely journaled a transverse rod 71. Journaled in the head above the rod 71 is a similar rod or pivot member 7 8.. A lever arm or toggle 75 has upon its outer end a lsemi-sleeve 76 fixed tothe rod 71 by a screw 77. A lever or tog-` gle or link 79 has upon ,its outer end a sleeve 80 fixed by a screw 81 to the pivot rod 73. Semi-sleeves 82and 8 8 on links 75 and 79 respectivelyl are fixed by screws 85 and 86 to pivot pins 88 and 89 respectively in lowerand upper ears 92 and 93 respectively upon a head 95. lThe last is provided with `a cavity 97 having a thread 98 adapted to receive a thread 99 uponthereducedend 100 of a link or rodf101. A lock nut 103 upon the portion 1.00 is employed in theadjustf ment of the travel of the plunger. The link 101 is pivoted lby a pin 105 to the upper arm 107 ofa bell crank lever 108 whoseangular or rbody portion 109 is pivoted upon a shaft 110 fast in the side walls 22 of the frame.

The lower arm 112 of the bell crank lever.

has a lateral stud 113 upon which is mounted a cam roll 114, adapted to cooperate with a cam 115 'fast to the main or driving shaft Mounted in 116.v journaledfin the side Walls ofthe frame.Vv

The'cam 115 is oblong'with longitudinaloperating swells 118 and 119. The shoulder or ear 118 is shorter than the swell 119 so that as the cam moves in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figure 5 the distance of travel of the' plunger 65 through the connecting parts is slightly less than lthe travel of the plunger in the second descent occasioned by a single rotation of the shaft 116. The first descent of the plunger is merely for the purpose of separating the. metallic film from the paper supporting strip, while the second stroke is primarily for embossing and'highly burnishing the segregated metallic strip or piece of metal. The togglefconstruction is important in affording a maximum of power for the plunger and its dies in the embossing stroke. This construction is also important in that the speed of the'plunger during its descent gradually decreases, and the power transmitted by the stroke gradually increases. rllhe slow movement and the increase of power of the stroke to its maximum at the close of its downward travel both contribute to more effective burnishing and embossing.- The adjustable connection of the member 101 with the member 95 allows Vthe latter to be advanced or withdrawn whereby the length of the' dwell of the plunger at the end of its downward stroke is regulated. The advance of the member 95 increases the length of the dwell. Work of different characters require different lengths of contact ofthe die therewith.

The plunger is returned by a cam 122 fast f to the main shaft 116 mounted in the frame` adjacent the cam 115. The cam 122 is also oblong and disposedfat an angle to the cam 115 and is provided laterally with opposite cam depressions 124 and 125. The cam 122 engages a cam roll 127 on a stud 128 upon the lower end of an arm 129 pivotcd at its upper end to the shaft 110 andprovided with a lateral shoulder 131 adapted to engage a stop lug 132 upon the body 109of the bell crank lever 108. In this instance a stop lug or pin 134 is provided on the bell crank lever for contacting with the opposite side of the arm 129. For the purpose of maintaining the rolls 128 and 114 in continuous contact with their respective cams a helical spring 136 has one end attached to a pin 137 upon the arm 129 and its other end attached to a screw 138 adjustably mounted in a lug 140 upon the arm 112 of the bell crank lever.

The main shaft 116 is Vdriven `from a drivand belt 144 from any convenient source of power. The shaft 142 is carried by journals 145 upon the supports 16 and hasl upon one end'a pulley 147 onwhich is a belt 148 engaging' and driving a balance pulley 150 fast toa shaft 152 in a journal 153 upon one side wall 22 of the casing. Gear teeth 154 upon 233 upon the ends of the shaft 229 which cothe last mentionedshaft mesh with and drive a gear 156 whose hub 157 is loose upon the outer end of the shaft 116. The hub 157 constitutes a clutch member cooperating with a clutch member' 159 fast to the shaft 116, the whole constituting an ordinary one revolution clutch operated in any usual convenient manner. As illustrated 161 is the arm of a bell crank Vlever pivoted to the wall of the frame on a pin 162, and has upon its end a wedge shaped cam plate 164 adapted to engage a slidable lock pin 166 in the member 159 engageable in `notches 168 in the.

member 157. The second arm 170 of the bell crank lever is operated by a wire 172 connected with a foot lever not shown.

For access to the mechanism housed by the casing there is provided in the portion 24r thereof an opening 175 closed by a door 176 hinged at one end as at 177 and locked by a nut 178. An opening 180 in the rear of the casing is closed by a door 181 hinged at one end, as at 182, and locked by anut 183. Mounted on the frame to move' longitudinally thereof-on opposite sides is a carriage comprising a roll holdersection and feed section. 24 are horizontal guides 185 and 186 respectively. The holder section of the carriage comprises a side wall 187 provided with a. longitudinal guideway189 to receive the guide 185. Upon the ends of the'side wall are end walls or lugs 190 in which are fixed, lone above the other, longitudinally disposed supporting rods 192 and y 193. Upon eachof the rods 192 and 193 is a collar 195 provided with a. set screw 196 and integral therewith is an arm 197 carrying in its outer end a pin 198 adapted'to enter the i Y Fast to opposite sides of the arm axial opening or a roll 199 of gold leaf. A

guideway 219 which receives the guide rod 186. At the ends of the wall 218 are lateral walls 220. Mounted in the latterv is the `shaft 222 of a rubber feed roll 224. In horizont-al guide openings 226in the walls are bearing blocks 227 pressed by springs 228- in which blocks is journaled a shaft r229 parallel with the shaft 222.` Upon the shaft 229 are mounted for radial and longitudinal adjustment drawing segments 231 adapted` to engage with the roll 224 to advance the paper backing strips 206 therebetween. The

segments are intermittently moved out of contact with the rubber roll by means of cams a side wall 218 provided with a longitudinal 115 f .i i

lll

operate with disks 234 on the shaft 222. In order to prevent slippage of the gold bear* ing paper' strip 206 as it moves upon the feed roll 224 a fixed longitudinal friction bar 236 is mounted in the` end wall of the carriage section 220 immediately above the rubber feed roll 224. A gravity roll 238 resting on the bar 236 with the strip passing therebetween has reduced end portions slidable in vert-ical guideways 240 in the end walls.

A rectangular guide or bearing 242 of a substantially similar shape to the guide member 213 has threaded ends 244 in perforated lugs 245 upon the end walls and adjustably held by nuts 246. The gold supporting strips 206 are intermittently drawn from the supply rolls 199 below and in contact with the guides 213 and 242 respectively, over the friction bar 236 and between the rubber feed roll 224 and the drawing segments. The guides depend into a plane lower than that of the diesv 69 when the plunger is elevated, and are in a plane higher than that of the table 46. For finally dis'- posing of the strips 206 there is attached to the outer ends of the side walls 220' by screws 247 a downwardly directed yoke shaped guide 248 having' an outwardly inclined lower portion 249 projecting beyond the vertical plane of the machine frame, and over which the strips 206 pass from the feed roll 224 and segments as the carriagereciprocates. The described guide by preventing Contact of the strip with the frame and affording a bea-ring spaced from the feed roll and segments prevents tearing or mutilation or displacement of the strips at or adjacent the roll, whereby ware of the metallic film and delays incident to readjustment are prevented.

The shaft 222 drives the shaft 229 through gears 252 and 253 on the respective shafts. The shaft 222 is splined by a key 255 to a sleeve or quill 256 mounted in a bearing 257 supported by a bracket arm 258 fixed by bolts 259 to the side wall of the frame. The shaft 222, it will be observed, is longitudinally slidable or reciprocable in the sleeve 256. The forward end of the sleeve has rigid therewith a nonmutilated beveled gear 261, and fast upon its opposite end a retaining collar 262 whereby the gear is prevented from longitudinal movement. Meshing with the gear 261 is a nonmutilated beveled gear 265 fast to the end of the main shaft 116 whereby the feed roll and segments are driven through the gear connections as described. T he gears 261 and 265 are in continuous engagement notwithstanding the relative longitudinal position of the shaft 22 which reciprocates with. the carriage. A housing 267 for the described beveled gears and the end of the shaft 222 is fixed by screws 269 to the side wall of the frame.

The carriage is longitudinally reciprocated by the following'mechanism. Intermediate the length of each of the side walls of the carriage sections is a stud 271 to which is pivoted a link 273 pivotally connected at its end by a pin 275 to the upper end of a lever 277 whose lower portion is fast to the end of a rock shaft 279 journaled in the frame of the machine.. shaft is operated as follows. A lever 281 fast to an intermediate portion of the shaft 279 has upon its outer end a stud` 2.82 carrying a cam roll 283 engaging a cam 285 fast to the shaft 116. The roll 283 is held in continuous contact with the cam 285 by means of a helical spring 287 attached at one end to a pin 289 in a lateral lug 290 on the lever 281.` The opposite end of the spring is attached to a rod 292 having a thread 294 engageable in a. perforated lug 295 fast to the table 15. Adjustment of the rod 292 is afforded by nuts 297 thereon.

The rock f The cam 285 for driving the carriage is' so timed relatively to thecams 115 and 122 fo-r reciprocating the plunger that the carriage is advanced to bring the strips 206 intermediate the plunger dies 69"and the table 46 while the plunger is elevated. There the carriage dwells sufficiently to ermit the plunger' to descendv and deposit a portion of the metal strip 207 upon the article supported on the table. During the retreat of the carriage the plunger ascends and by a second descent deeply impresses the metallic lea-f into the article and burnishes the same. During the interval that the 'carriage' is beneath the plunger the cams 233 are operating to separate the segments 231 from the roll 234 so that the travel of the strips is suspended.

I claim 1. In a metallic leaf applying machine, a frame, a work support in the frame, a plunger slidably mounted in the frame above the support, a main shaft in the frame, a second shaft in the frame, a cam on the first shaft, a lever on the second shaft engaging the cam, a link on the lever, a toggle arm carried by the link attached to the head, a second toggle arm carried by the link engaging the plunger, horizontal guides on the frame beside the plunger, a reciprocating carriage slidably mounted on the guides movable to and from the plunger, metallic strips supported by the carriage in a plane between the plunger and the support, a second vcam on the main shaft, yand operative connections between the last mentioned cam and the carriage.

2. In a metallic leaf applying machine, a frame, a work support on the frame, a plunger in the frame above the support, a main sha-ft in the frame, a second shaftin the frame, two cams on the main shaft, a bell crank lever on the second shaft engaging one cam, a lever on the bell crank lever engaging the second cam, a link attached to the bell crank lever, a toggle arm pivotally attached to the frame above the plunger and supported by the link, a toggle arm pivotally engaging the plunger and supported by the link, horizontal guides on the frame beside the plunger, a reciprocable metallic leaf feeding carriage supported on the guides movable to and from the plunger, a third cam on the main shaft, and means operated by the third cam for actuating the carriage. Y p

3. In a metallic leaf applying machine, a

' frame, a work support in the frame, a plun- V ger slidably mounted in the frame above the sup rt, a main shaft in the frame, a second shaft in the frame, a cam on the first shaft,

a lever on the second shaft engaging the cam,: a link on the lever provided with a thread, a second head carried by the link provided with a thread engaging the firstthread, a toggle arm pivotally connecting the heads, a second toggle arm pivotally engaging the second head and the plunger, horizontal guides on `the frame beside the plunger, a reciprocating carriage slidably mounted on the guides movable to and from the plunger, metallic strips supported by the carriage in a plane between the plunger -and the support, a second cam on the main shaft, and operative connections between the lastmentioned cam and the carriage.

4. In a metallic leaf applying machine, a frame, a plungermounted in the frame, means for operating the plunger, 'a'reciprocatingcarriage mounted on the frame movfeed roll to draw the backing strip between the friction rod and the gravity roll,

5. In a metallic leaf applying machine, a frame, a main shaft in the frame, a-reciprocatin connections between the shaft and plunger, a gear on the shaft, a carriage slidably mounted on the frame, a shaftin the car-r riage, a gear supported by the frame slidably mounted on the second shaft and permanenty ly engaging the first gear, and .a feed roll on the second shaft.

6. In a metallic leaf applying machine, a frame, a plunger mounted in the frame, means for opera-tin the plunger, guides upon the frame adJacent the plunger, a reciprocating carriage mounted on the guides movable toward the plunger, a roll upon the carriage for feeding the ybacking strips -transversely of the carriage and of lthe plunger, means for reciprocating the carriage, and a lateral depending' U shaped guide mounted on the carriage comprising an outwardly inclined lower portion for directing backing strips away from the frame.

In testimony whereof I have axed my signature.` i

GEORGE E. LITTLEFIELD.

plunger in the frame, operative Y 

